Water in spare tire well - coming from below? [850][1997]... posted by Landin on Tuesday, 13 March 2001, at 4:17 p.m.

                      After each of the two big rains here in Socal, I found a pint or two of water in the spare tire well beneath
                      the spare tire. My wife keeps everything but the kitchen sink in the trunk (apparently to help the oil
                      companies sell more gas, and in case it snows in San Diego our front wheel drive car will be well
                      weighted down in the back!) and nothing was wet above the bottom of the spare tire well, implying that
                      it entered from below. ("It" being the water, not the collection of National Geographics from 1957 to
                      1986 filed in the trunk).

                      Anyone else having this problem? Looking from beneath the car, I see a few pencil sized holes, which
                      appear to be intentionally part of the design, on the outside of the spare tire well. What are these for and
                      should I plug them? plug them with what?

                      I found water in my spare tyre well a couple of weeks ago which turned out to be a loose joint in the
                      tube for the rear wash wipe. I don't know where it is on the saloon as i have an estate but it's worth a
                      look.
                      I certainly do not have any holes in the tyre well though so i should definately plug them.
                      Ian

                      Don't plug the drains on the side. Make sure with the hood raised that the drain holes are clear, at the
                      shop I blow them out at home you could try running water through them. Sometimes if the drains clog
                      then the water will not run off as it should and then seep into the car.

                      --
                      Rich K.

                      Rich: What drain holes? Thanks.

... posted by Rich K. Fairfax, VA  on Wednesday, 14 March 2001, at 6:03 p.m. ...in response to "Re: What drain holes? where?" posted by Landin.
 

                      If you raise up the trunk lid, look around the lip/seal on the car up forward you should see some drain
                      holes.

                      --
                      Rich K.

                      Thanks. But if the water is coming from around the trunk seal, why isn't anything in the trunk wet except
                      the very bottom of the spare tire well?